New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-09-09
HOW 70 PURIFY DRINKING WATER.

To the Editor OF The tribune.
SIR: view that tho present average
death In Ncw-York is vastly greater than thai
OF London your editorial referring 10 tho "pur6cauon
OF Drinking Water is timely for few Of your readers
realize tho danger that turks In their much boasted
CrOtOn waLeE All authorities agree That water
containing moro than fifteen one-hundredths parts
per million OF albuminoid ammonia should be con-
demncd unfit for potable purposes: and yet,
a recent analysis OF Croton ruowcd a. high
twenty+iI one-hundredths parts per million of such
impurities such being the case what may We oApoct
when the Quaker Bridge system becomes source
Of suppyi
The efficacy Of filtration has been shown in london
In way which will be understood by yOnr average
reader During the cholera epidemic, which prevailed
to such fgutful extent In that city In 1853 "a,
certain dstIicts the metro oils suppl.ei
filtered water and Others with unftered water, both
coming from the source OF supply. 1t found
that the mortality In the district pIlied with until
tered water was but 100 TO ten thousand living,
wh1c that In the district supplied with filtered
was but tl1rtyseven to every ten thousand living
IL should be understood that this the result
OF the old system oi hltrauon by Of nltering
beds which did not admit Of fIeiuent cleansing
Modern Inventions, which only cost about Une-half
as much 10 Install the old systcn. PROVIDE not only
Tor daily cleansing oi the litter bed, but by system
VI aeratlon ami coagulauon all. nearly all, tho
Inmate organisms precipitaed and remov ed.
IL woud be Fortunate indeed, II only matured con-
stuucns hal 10 contend with tho evils referred TO-
but alas, ouI little children the greatest sufferers
and NE TRIBUNE could do more humane acti0u
nan TO take up the subject and give IT, powerful
ihhuence toward securing pure water for this city
iHnedAfo RESULTS cannot be eAl tel. but Lhnhlng
people arc cslnnlng oren their eyes 10 the TACT
that pure water II essential to health and happiness
a. puro al aud urc io0d
Many cities have adopted, introducing
aTlnclsl MT aIUn and ~ II 10 be bopel that sDIc
terrible epidemic VI ltatiun will not b. necessary to
inrrs our authorities with The necessity for some
action on their part Tending such action tho following
general directions, II given publicity and Insisted
W on may hc the means Of saving many lives.
Drink no water that has not heen previously boiled
DO not put Ice into The water unless II L. known TO
10 pure, for tho ice MAY contain az many disease
germs a. the water Tho water should ONLY 10 allowed
10 com" 10 boil when It. should be removed from
mo IRE. for otherwise YOU will expcl the Ory gen,
which gives II an UNI loteant taste. After boiling
IL should IL placof In stOno Jar and covered over
vh"n sufficiently cool Il should he dccantcSi Into
BOTTLES and then put Ice n ia best boil sufficient
water oacb morning 10 last during the day II roesblr
TO avoid H. do not use water that has come from
n tank on ton OF the honsc. which T. often a VERY
hot rcd OF d-'ase: far better 70 the basrrient
or ward. " you canno' otherwise a direct Cow
rom the main II vOu have Of th- MANY ~ .rlng
furnishing store throw II away. but heforc dcirc
-" break Y 10 rcoes that other unfortunate does
not ret hold Of IT,
Snrh devices. unless provision s madc for the
rnfir renovai and wahing o. all The fering material
and nn'es. such ora ntiOn ~ carried ont every dav
are Nh" in"rha'ore 'or the propagation Of tartcria
Neio- York. Aug. 20. 1897 RETsoF.